Article counting and conveying apparatus



y 12, 1953 A. A. MAYER 2,638,203

ARTICLE COUNTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 wan m? ALBERT .A. MAYER May 12, 1953 A. A. MAYER ARTICLE COUNTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /A/1/A/70 ALBERT A. MAYER 21 fi iiw May 12, 1953 A. A. MAYER ARTICLE COUNTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 28, 1951 4 nm Mm M M A. 9 AM u A W A TL AH z t 8 N m o if A "m. :1 L... \m 0 NM kl hwr 1? Am wwfi .& 1.x fifi a A Edw Q a p i May 12, 1953 A. A. MAYER 2,63 3

ARTICLE COUNTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 kiwi/V70? ALBERT A. MAYER y 1953 A. A. MAYER 2,638,203

ARTICLE COUNTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' ARTICLE COUNTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS 6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for conveying and counting articles such as cases, cartons, packages and the like, and more particularly to improvements therein.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple oscillating or swinging conveyor for conveying articles in a regulated order or sequence and for counting the individual articles conveyed through the apparatus.

It is also an object of this invention to provide conveyor apparatus for determining the movement of articles by means of the responsive action of a portion of the mechanism to the weight or other physical characteristic of the articles conveyed.

' It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus of the above character having a conveyin section positively responsive to the weight of the conveyed articles and to provide cooperating automatic mechanism for counting and for determining the spaced movement of articles through the apparatus.

The invention consists in apparatus for con veying articles between a loading or receiving station and a delivery or discharge station, and an article sequence or spacing and counting means responsive to the weight or physical characteristic of the articles coming from the loading station, whereby the articles may be spaced or segregated and simultaneously counted to facilitate the further handling thereof.

The invention furthermore consists in the parts and in the combination, association and assembly of parts hereinafter to be described in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the articl counting and conveying apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the apparatus as seen along the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed and fragmentary sectional elevation of counterweighted levers, seen at line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an adjustable conveyor belt roller seen along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the conveyor belt roller means shown in Fig. 5, this view being taken along the line 5-6 thereof;

Fig. 7 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of latching and tripping mechanism, the view being taken at line 71 in Fig. 3;

2 Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectionalview of the latch arm and toggle spring assembly seen along line 8-8 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the latch arm and trip lever in an operative position differing from that of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the present conveyor and counting apparatus, shown in its normally inclined or inoperative position;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing a first stage in the operation of the apparatus;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing a further stage in the operation of the apparatus;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic View showing the apparatus in one limited position of its full cycle of operation; and

Fig. 14 is afurther diagrammatic view of the present apparatus showing the reversal of movement thereof from the limited position of Fig. 13, the parts ultimately returning to the normal position of Fig. 10.

The present conveying and counting apparatus will first be described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In these views, the apparatus includes the usual frame assembly l0 having the supporting legs ll joined together by suitably disposed brace members [2 and I3 to provide support for a first pair of members M for conveyor rollers I 5 and a longitudinally spaced pair of members 16 for other conveyor rollers H. includes suitable longitudinally disposed side panels 20 enclosin the operating mechanism of the conveyor. It will be understood that the conveyor rollers [5 are utilized to receive packages or articles to be conveyed and counted by the present mechanism and that the conveyor rollers I! receive the articles from this mechanism for discharge from the apparatus. 7

Between the spaced conveyor roller sections represented by the frame members Hi and I6, is located an oscillatory or pivotally mounted conveyor section 22 consisting in side frames 23 between which are supported a live roller 24 and an adjustable idler roller 25. The rollers 24 and 25 carry a conveyor belt 26. The live roller 24 (Figs. 1 and 2) is connected by a drive chain 2'! to a power sprocket 28 driven in a well known manner by the electric motor 29 carried on the laterally extending frame braces It. It is observed in Figs. 1 and 2, that the oscillatory conveyor 22 has its pivot axis coinciding with the axis for the power roller 24. This is simply accomplished by employing the shaft 30 for supporting the roller 24 as well as utilizing it for the pivot shaft for the Iranian. Thus, the oscillatory conveyor 22 The frame It also may move in a vertical direction about the axis of shaft 38 without interfering with the operation of the conveyor belt 26 driven through motor means The conveyor 22 is adapted to be movable between an inclined article receiving position and a depressed article carrying and discharge position, the same being fully disclosed in connection with Figs. 10 and 13.

Between the inner end of the conveyor roller group I5 and the adjacent end of the oscillatory conveyor 22, there is provided a control means 32 having a free running roller 33 carried by a pair of spaced arms 34 extending along each side of the frame Ill. The control is more clear- 1y shown in Figs. 3 and 4 as having angularly directed arm portion 35 interconnected by a cross member 36 on which is mounted a counterweight group 37. Intermediate the ends of the arms 3 are located bearing bosses 33 providing pivot openings for mounting the same on suitable p vot pi s 38- Between the roller group I5and the oscillatory conveyor 22 there is also disposed a stop member Ml (Figs. 1, 3, 7 and; 9) which is carried on a pair of pace arms i extendin p rallel with and adjacent the arms 34. Each of the arms M has a. b arin oss 42, to receive the p vot p s 39 whi h support. arms 34.. Rearwar ly f t pivot bosses, ii, the arms 4| are interconnected ya cross member 43. carrying a c un rw h roup 64. The c unterweigh supp r in member 3 is attached between the angularly directed portions of; armS ii, which angularly directed portions 45 lie parallel with the previously described angularly direeted'o s 35 of arms 34. In Figs. 3 and 4, it is; clear that the rm. po ions 35. are en a ed, with. and supported y the ross. member t3 connectin arm p rti ns 45. However, th rms 35 are free o liftfrom he member 43.

Each of the arms M for the stop 4b is carried y the adjacent. side wall 26. of the frame It n pi t elemen s 45:: mounted in fixed bearin 41-. Th elements do engage in pivot bosses 4.8 on; the. arms. M. It: s observed. that he. co

mon axis. for the p vot: pins, 6 s l ated o twardly of the common axis,- for the pivot pins 9s The weightmeans. 31; and Ml are chosen so. that the r ller as and s op i] will be held up. as in F 2... and the member at will supn he arm portions 35:- Sbou-ld the. arms 35; be l ft d from, the member 43. th full weight of the ntr l 32 would be shifted to th arms. ll at the pivot. pins to... sinc the pins. 9 are not i ned with th outer p ot pin. 46,, the sto 6 an its, arms 41- will swing about the pivots 46.

It is noted in Figs. 2. and.- 1 0 that. the,- oscillatory conveyor 2-2 is normally maintained in an, upwardly tilted position, that is with the idler roller 25 located angularly above the power roller 24, The conveyor 22 is maintained thus by means of counterweighted lifting arms 56. (Figs. 2 and. 3) which are suitably pivotally mounted by pivots 51, to the side walls 2E1 of the frame 10, such that. the inner ends. of the arms may be interconnected by a member 5,2. carrying a suitable counterweight 53.. The outer end of each arm 50 carries a roller element 5 3' which is, adapted to engage on a roller abutment (Fi s 2,; and 10) car i y he. frame of. h oscillatory conveyor 22. Each of the arms 5'!) is provided with a trip finger, '5' pivotally connected; to the inner end of the arm 5t adjacent the counterweight location by the element 58.

The trip finger 51 is limited to free motion in one direction only and is provided with a stop pin 59 on the arm 51'! to prevent reverse motion of the finger relative to the arm 58.

Each of the stop arms il is provided with a trip finger Gil (Figs. 2, 3 and 7) which is pivoted thereto at 6! and is permitted a predetermined degree of movement in only one direction relative to the arm 4! by means of the fixed pin 62 disposed in an elongated slot lit in the body portion of the finger at. The trip finger so is provided with an elongated angularly directed cam face 64 which engages a roller follower 66 carried on the adjacent one of a pair of latch arms 68. Each latch arm 58 is mounted on the frame wall 20 (Fig. 8) by suitable means 6'! for pivotal movement about the pin 89, and is provided at its upper end with a notch '29 (Figs. 7, 8 and 10) adapted to engage a cross member or latch bar ll forming a part of the stop ill.

Turning to Figs. 1, 3, '7 and 9, the counterweight 53, between the arms so for lifting the hinged frame 23 for the conveyor belt 26, carries an angle member which acts as a lift finger F2 for the stop id. The finger 72 projects rearwardly into the path of movement of the latch bar ll on the stop lll whereby it may engage the bar H and positively lift the stop til into its article interrupting position during the time a preceding article is on the belt 2d and has moved the same down. Concurrently, the latch arm 68 will snap into locked position, with its notch lb engaging the bar H. The latch 68 is released from the bar ll only when the trip fingers 5? are moved downwardly into engagement with the roller $6. This latter action occurs when the hinged conveyor 22 moves into its tilted position by the action of the counterweight 53 on arms 59. The stop pin 59 prevents the finger E? from moving so it may act on the latch arm 68 when moved downwardly. However, the finger 51 is free and inelfective to displace the latch 63 when moved upwardly past the roller 66 thereon.

The latch arms 68 are held each in its normal inoperative position of Figs. 7 and 10 by means of a toggle spring l2 operatively carried at the outer face of the frame side wall 20 against a fixed plate "i i. Each toggle spring l3. (Figs. 2 and 8) is mounted on a guide rod l5 which slidesv through the plate is and is fixed to a collar 76 carried by a rod ll which extends through an opening it in the side wall it from its. attachment in the latch arm 68. It is believed the action of each toggle spring assembly for retaining the latch arm in either one or the other of its over center positions is so well known that it needs no further description.

It should be pointed out here in connection with Figs. 2 and '7, that the first mentioned trip finger 5'6 carried by the arm members 56} is provided with an angularly directed cam face 56 which during a predetermined. movement of the arm member till is adapted to engage the roller 68 on the latch arm 68. and cause movement of the latch arm in an angular direction opposite to the direction caused by the cam face it; on the trip finger 5G. carried by the stop arms ll. Thus, the adjacent pair of lingers 5'1 lit serve to control the position of the latch arm 68, while the toggle, spring it maintains it in a given position until changed by action of a trip finger.

The operation of the present counting and conveying mechanism will be described in detail in connection with Figs. 10 through 14. In Fig. 10, an article A to be conveyed through the apparatus and counted is shown approaching, on the conveyor roller group IS, the location of the control means 32 and the stop 40. At this time, the oscillatory conveyor section 22 is shown in its normal elevated position so that its discharge end above the adjacent discharge roller group I7. This condition or tilted position of the section 22 is brought about by means of the lifting arms 53 having a sufficient mass in the counterweight 53 on one side of its pivot 5| to offset the weight of the oscillatory conveyor frame and parts, thereby causing the angular elevation of the latter through the abutment of the roller 54 of arm 55 on the plate 55.

In Fig. 11, the article A is shown as having progressed sufficiently far to cause downward movement of the control member 32, thereby swinging the arm members 34 about their respective pivots 39 and elevating the rearwardly extended counter-weighted arm portions 35. When this occurs, the full weight of the control means 32, that is the weight of the arms 34, the counterweights 3'! on the cross member 36 and the load necessary to cause the displacement of the control 32 is transferred to the adjacent arms 4| of the stop means. Since the arms 34 are carried by the arms H, the full support of the control means 37. thereby transferred to the arms 4| causing the latter to pivot about the pivot elements 4t. As a consequence, depression of the control means 32 by the advancing movement of an article A will result in quite rapid following movement of the stop 43 to permit unobstructed further advance of the article A. With the con trol means 32 and the stop it removed from the path of the article A, the article is free to advance to the conveyor belt 23, to be conveyed thereby through the conveyor section 22 to the discharge conveyor rollers l1. 2

As the arms 4| swing downwardly to remove the stop 43 from the path of article A, the trip fingers 60 engage the rollers 66 on the latch arms 68 and cause the latches to snap over center into a ready position against the latch bar I I. This action places the notch in the latch arm 68 alongside the latch bar "H ready to engage the bar upon the next upward movement of the stop 40. The ready is shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

It is important to point out that in the preferred construction, the oscillatory conveyor frame 22 and the conveyor belt 26 thereon are located with the plane of the active portion of the belt 26, that is the upper span or pass, located above the plane of the conveyor roller group I5. This difference in the elevation of the two conveyor portions results in each article A having its forward edge raised as it abuts the conveyor belt 26. Each article A, on being elevated at its forward end, progresses onto the conveyor belt 26 at an angle, thereby lifting it from the control means 32 and stop 40. Eventually the weight of the article will overbalance the mass of the counterweight 53 on arms 50 and cause the conveyor frame 22 to move downwardly, so that the top span of its conveyor belt 26 will assume a more horizontal position substantially in registry with the plane of the adjacent discharge rollers ll.

With reference to Fig. 12, it is noted that the article A assumes an angular position above the location of the control means 32 and the stop 40. The angular position assumed by each article, at this particular time establishes a space between the under surface of the article A and the control means 32 into which the control means 32 may move by reason of the action of its counter- 6. weights 31. Upward displacement of the control means 32 causes its arm members 34 to return toward a position in which the outer end portions 35 thereof again rest upon the cross member 43 for the arm members 45. This tends to relocate the weight of the control means 32 at the outer side of the pivot axis for pivot pins 46. When thus relieved, the counterweights 44 for arms 4| resume their function to elevate the stop means 40 to its normal article interrupting position shown in Fig. 10. This upward movement of the stop 40 is assisted by the lifting finger 12 on the counterweight 53 for the arms 50, as previously described.

Turning to Fig. 13, it is observed that the conveyor 22 is in its depressed position and article A has now been carried by the conveyor belt 26 to a position where it is partly transferred to the discharge rollers l1.- W'ith article A in this position, a following article B, arriving on the conveyor rollers |5 will depress control means 32, but it will be arrested against further advancing movement by the stop means 4!). Observe that in this position of article A, the lifting arms 50 for the oscillatory conveyor frame 22 are held in the inactive position of angular displacement by the presence of article A on the conveyor belt 25. The downward operation of the arm 50 is thus delayed during the time it takes article A to clear the belt 26. Once arm 53 is free, the action of trip finger 5T engaging the follower roller 65 on the latch arm 68 can become effective to displace the latch arm 68 from its latch position relative to the stop 40. Consequently, article B will not be permitted to advance beyond the position shown in Fi 13, until the preceding article A has been fully discharged from or is clear of the conveyor belt 26, and the oscillatory conveyor frame 22 started on its return to the tilted or angular position, by the action of the counter weighted arms 53. Downward movement of arms 56 (Fig. 14) brings the trip fingers 51 thereon into contact with the follower rollers 65 to snap or shift the latch 68 to the normal position of Fig. 7. The displaced position of the control means 32 is thereby effective to cause withdrawal of the stop 40. Article B is then released for movement into contact with the conveyor belt 26, after which it will be carried through the apparatus in the same manner as that described for article A.

The foregoing cycle of operation described in relation to articles A and B repeats itself automatically when a large number of articles are received by the apparatus. The result is that the articles are conveyed through the apparatus in a spaced or segregated order. The spacing or segregating of the articles is performed by the oscillating movement of the conveyor section 22, in combination with the control means 32, the stop 40 and the several counterweighted arms 34, 4| and 50.

Th counting of the articles is obtained by mounting a counter of any well known make at the side of the frame wall 20 (Figs. 1 and 2) adjacent the path of movement of one of the arms 50. The cycle of movement of arm 50 corresponds with the spaced movement of each article and thus directly reflects the number of articles being conveyed by the apparatus. The counter has its arm 8| connected by a link 82 with a pin 83 on the arm 50.

What I claim is:

1. In article conveying apparatus, the combination of a conveyor having article receiving and discharging sections and a "normally -inclined transfer-conveyor seotion betweensaid first mentionedsectionssaid inclined- -conveyor being movable under the weight'of an artiole to ap'osition substantially aligned with said discharge =conveyor section, stop means to interrupt passage of articles onto "said transfer conveyor, means latching said stop means in its article interrupting position, means for actuatin said latching means to release said stop means upon return of said "transfer conveyor section to its inclined "position, and means responsive to the presence of an article on said receiving conveyor section for removing said stop means to allow'movement'of the "article onto said transfer conveyor section.

2. In article conveying apparatusyspaced conve'yor sections located at different elevations, --an intermediate transfer conveyor section 'pivotally movable between an inclined article receiving pos'itionand a position substantially aligned with one of said spaced conveyor sections, count-er- Weighted means for urging said transfer conveyor section into its inclined position, said "counterweighted means being overcome and 'saidtransfer-conveyor section being moved. to said'aligne'd position by an article moving onto "said transfer conveyor section, article stop means normally urged into article stop position in advance or said transfer-conveyor section, control means for moving said stop means out of article stop "po sition in response to the movement'of an article toward said transfer conveyor section, 'a latch for holding said stop means in'article stop *pos'ition, independent of said control means, and latch trip "means for operating said'latch to :release saidarticlestop for movement "by-said control means.

3. In *ar'ticleconveying apparatus, a conveyor movable between an inclined article'receivingposition'and a depressedartie'le discharge position, 1

said movable conveyor having a pivotal 'fra'me, rollers on said frame, and a conveyor-belt'on said rollers, said conveyor having said pivotal "frame disposed -toreceive articles adjacent itspi'vot and to discharge the articles remote therefrom, counterw'eighted means normailyiurging "said conveyor into'its einclinedlpositinnfistopmeansdisposed adiaeentifihe iarticle reoeiving end of said conveyor to interrupt the movement of articles thereto while :an article is being conveyed by said conveyor, theiconveyedarticlezov'ercomingsaid counterweig htedzmeans and causing-movement of said conveyor toward its :depre'ssed position, and automatic imea ns adapted Ito remove said stop means from the pathaof an artiolemoving to said conveyor fol lowing discharge of an article from said conveyor.

nine apparatus-set forth in claim 3, wherein said counterweighted means includesa lever having 'a' pivot intermediate its ends, a counterweight adjacent one endand a'roll'er-carried adjacent the opposite end 'forabutment with said conveyor to urgeithe latteriinto sziiddmlinedposition.

5. "ithezapparatus set -forthin claim 3, wherein said stop means comprises a lever having a pivot intermediate :its ends, a stop element projecting at :one end and counterweights "adjacent the "opposite end, said counterweights Surging said lever about:sai'd'pivot 1 in :a direction to position said stop in'lthe path of articles-to be received on said conveyor.

"fi. Z'Ihe apparatus set forthnin claim 3, wherein saidilas't mentioned 'me'ans-includes a control lever movably carriedibyzsaid stop means and having a member engaged by anarticle for moving said control Ilever independently of said stop means, andcount'enweights:on saidcontrol lever for movin; (said step imeans iiollowing said independent movementof the lever.

ALBERT A. MAYER.

,-Reerences- Cited in the :file'of this patent UNITED 'STATES "PATENTS Number Name Date 2,493,464 Nelson Jan. 3, 1950 2,5733% Kirchner o Nov. 6, 1951 FGREIGN PATENTS Number "Country Date 2781861 Great "Britain Oct. 20, 192'? "4165595 Germany July 21,1925 

